No doubt there will be little thanks for creating this
primary hybrid from Coelogyne flaccida and Coelogyne huettneriana because of
the confusion between them that already exists between these two impressive
orchids in the public arena. However,
I am trusting that the benefits of hybrid vigour will more than justify its
creation. The pod parent, Coelogyne flaccida is an extremely popular white, small
flowered orchid that is very frequently confused with the pollen parent,
Coelogyne huettneriana - which is very similar and also beautiful. It is also confused with Coelogyne lactea with some
growers arguing that they are the same species. Consequently, adding a new
primary hybrid with its variations to three similar species with their
variations could prove a frustrating ID challenge at times without resorting
to DNA.
The plants were pollinated on 26.10.2009 and very
readily fertilised in both directions resulting in many pods on both parent
plants. The pods were flasked on 21.10.2010, deflasked 23.05.2011 and first
flowered on 10.10.2017. I have chosen to register the hybrid with Coelogyne
flaccida as the pod parent.
Given the huge similarity between the blooms of both
parents, it is understandable that the flowers of this hybrid carry a
multitude of common traits.
The 10cm flower spike is heteranthous, and arches
outwards below the leaf canopy. There are up to 8 simultaneously opening,
velvety white flowers around 5cm across with the sepals slightly wider than
the petals. Typically, the plants have several spikes forming a prolific
display. The hybrid flowers have yellow across the middle of the lip and
along the mid-lobes, merging into heavy dark brown colouring and veining on
the inside lobes. The hybrid maintains the 3 cleanly formed white keels of
Coelogyne flaccida that extend from the lip to the throat. The keels end in
a yellow bar of colour across the lip and within this yellow zone the keels
are tipped with brown. This contrasts with the wider more profuse brown
colouring around the keels of Coelogyne huettneriana. The column is white
but has a brown line of colouring along the underside.
This hybrid has been named in honour of my
sister-in-law Susan Dixon, a dedicated orchid lover.
Negatives: .The only negative is that this hybrid could be confused with either of its popular parents.
Rating: ♦♦♦♦ This is a very hardy, strong growing plant that flowers profusely. I would highly recommend it as a beginners orchid as well as anyone who likes a relaxed easy growing orchid.
Registration: Registration with the RHS as Coelogyne Susan Dixon was recorded in September 2017.
Varieties: None known.
Hybrids: None registered
| < Coel Kirribilli Stephanie | Coel Linda Buckley > |